Top court to decide if Boris Johnson can be jailed if UK crashes out of Europe without a deal on October 31
A TOP court will today decide if Boris Johnson can be JAILED if the UK walks away from the EU without a Brexit deal on October 31. The PM is legally obliged to go cap in hand to Brussels and No10 said in court documents last week that it would seek an extension. COURT CLASH […]
A TOP court will today decide if Boris Johnson can be JAILED if the UK walks away from the EU without a Brexit deal on October 31.
The PM is legally obliged to go cap in hand to Brussels and No10 said in court documents last week that it would seek an extension.
COURT CLASH
However, Remainer petitioners don’t believe Downing Street can be trusted and think Mr Johnson will ignore the Brexit-blocking Benn Act.
They want a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh to enforce an order that would result in serious consequences for the PM if he refused to go to EU chiefs and beg for more time.
The injunction includes banning him from asking EU member states to deny the letter’s request or by sending an additional letter which contradicts it.
If the PM then ignored the order the penalty could be a fine or even jail time.
The bid – led by businessman Vince Dale, SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC and Jolyon Maugham QC – was launched at the Outer House of the court.
Aidan O’Neill QC, representing the campaigners behind the legal action, claimed Mr Johnson’s previous statements go against what he has said to the court through the documents.
He referred to promises made by the Prime Minister that he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than send a letter requesting an extension, and that the UK will leave on October 31 “do or die”.
Judge Lord Pentland is expected to announce his decision later today.
FINAL CHANCE
The court case comes after Boris told EU leaders this week is their final chance to secure a Brexit deal.
He warned them that believing he will agree to an extension would be “a historic misunderstanding”.
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But last night the EU stood by its refusal to enter detailed negotiations of his blueprint.
The PM could even be forced to cancel his planned tour of European capitals unless progress is made today.
Finnish PM Antti Rinne claimed Mr Johnson “only now understands what a big mess it is”.
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